Frog gaff



Nov. 4, 1952 N, G, ODNEAL 2,616,753

FROG GAFF Filed Deo. 23, 1949 Fig. 3. gli- &5

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Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE FROG GAFF Nova Gr. Odneal, Turlock, Calif.v Application December 23, 1949, Serial No. 4134f,651:'i

1 claim. (o1. 294-110)- This invention relates to gall hooks, and more particularly pertains to a gaH hook of the type having pivoted jaws adapted to close by a spring action upon contact with an object.

The primary object of this invention is toenable a person to catch frogs, fish, orto pick up inanimate objects.

Another important object of this invention is to catch frogs or the like in such a manner that escape is impossible and with a minimum of injury to the animal caught.

A meritorious feature of the present invention resides in the toggle linkage connecting the jaws which releasably holds the jaws in the open position and serves as a trip for closing of the laws.

Another important feature of the present invention resides in the means provided for holding the toggle linkage to keep the jaws open.

Still another important feature of the present invention resides in the pivotal connection between the jaws and the base, whereby each jaw is independently urged towards a closing position by the spring.

A final feature to be specically enumerated herein resides in the slots in the base in which the ends of the spring ride so as to limit the closing movement of the jaws.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the present invention, with a portion of the staff being broken away and certain concealed parts being indicated by dotted outline;

Figure 2 is another side elevational view of the present invention similar to that shown in Figure 1, however showing the jaws in the closed position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view being taken upon the plane of the section line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken upon the plane of the section line 4-4 in Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is another horizontal sectional view, being taken substantially upon the plane of the section line 5-5 of Figure 1.

kReference is now made more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, and inwhich the frog gaff isindicated generally by the numeral IIJ.

The gaff I0 comprises a base I2 suitably secured to a staff I4, as by extending into the bifurcated end of the staff I4, being fastened therein', as by screws I6. A pair of jaws I8 are pivotally secured to the base I2, as by spaced pivots 20, and are adapted for relative opening and closing pivotal movement. The jaws I8 are preferably provided with teeth 22 for engaging objects between the jaws upon closing movement.

A toggle linkage comprising links 24 and 26 connects the jaws I8, the adjacent ends of the links 24 and 26 being pivoted at 28 and the remote ends being pivoted to the jaws I8 as at 30 and 32.

Means is provided for yieldingly urging the jaws I8 into closed position which includes a substantially U-shaped spring 34 that is secured at its mid-point to the base I2 by a fastener 36. As best shown in Figures l and 3, the ends of the spring 34 are bent to provide hooks 48 whichA extend through suitable apertures in the jaws I and through arcuate slots 38 in the base I 2. It will be understood that upon pivotal movement of the jaws I8 the hooks 46 travel in the slots 38, and that the length of the slots 38 determines the extent of pivotal movement permitted the jaws I8.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, the toggle linkage formed by the links 24 and 26 permit opening and closing movement of the jaws I8, when the linkage is not in a dead-center position, as shown in Figure 1. The jaws I8 are provided with extensions 42 with an upstanding ear 44 which limit the movement of the links 24 and 26 in an outward direction in a position slightly beyond dead-center position. It will be understood that when the links 24 and 26 engage the ears 44, the jaws I8 are held in the open position shown in Figure 1 and against the action of the spring 34, but that upon a slight inward pressure on the toggle linkage suicient to pass the pivot 28 through the dead-center position, the spring 34 collapses the toggle linkage closing the jaws I8 to the position shown in Figure 2.

It is believed that the operation of the device will be readily understood. The jaws I8 of the gall I8 are opened by either spreading the jaws I8 apart or pushing outwards upon the toggle linkage. The opening operation is especially easy because of the tremendous mechanical advantage afforded by the toggle linkage and is not subject to the usual hazards if such devices inasmuch as the fingers do not need to be placed between the teeth 22. The operator holds the gaff Ill by the staff I4 and thrusts the same towards the object to be caught until the toggle linkage engages the top or back, whereupon the toggle linkage collapses and the jaws I8 close to engage the object therebetween. The object is then released by opening the jaws I8 and the device is again ready for a repeat operation.

The device disclosed herein possesses several important advantages; The arrangement of the spring 34 and the slots 38 is such that the jaws I8 may close only to a predetermined extent, whereby injury to the animal caught between the jaws I8 is minimized. The pivotal arrangement of the jaws I8 and the toggle linkage permits independent closing movement Vof' either one of the jaws I8. The tripping. action of the toggle linkage may be made extremely sensitive, if desired, by disposing the ears 44,50 that. in the open position ofthe jaws I8 the toggle linkage is very near dead-center position.

From the foregoing, the ,construction and op.- eration of the device will be readily understood Vand fu-rther explanation is believed to be un- -necessaryl However, since numerous modifications Vand changes will readily `occur to those skilled vin the art after `a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, Vit is not desired to limit theinvention to the exact construction shown and..described, but. all

suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

'Having described the invention, claimed as new is:

A frog gal comprising an elongated handle, a plate on one end of said handle, said plate having arcuate slots therein, a pair of coacting jaws pivotally mounted, at an intermediate point, on said plate ,andV having aperturesin one end portion in registry with the slots, a substantially V" shaped spring secured, at an intermediate point, on one side of the plate, hooks on the ends o 'said spring extending through the apertures and operable in the slots and engaged with the other side Yof the lplate for closing the jaws, limiting the swinging movement of said jaws and for securing said one end portion thereof to said plate, and teeth on the other end portions of said jaws.

'CITED The following references are of record in .the fil-e -of this patent:

UNITED STATES 'PATENTS what is Number Name Date 671,294 Pennock Apr. 2, 1901 918,613 Upton Apr. A20, 1909 

